The Body Shop | Readers weigh in on Paula Deen

May 16, 2012

Celebrity chef Paula Deen talks with host Steve Doocy during a taping of “FOX & Friends” in October in New York City. Deen is taking medication for her type 2 diabetes, but columnist Bryant Stamford says she should make lifestyle changes as well. / Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Written by

Bryant Stamford

Several weeks ago I discussed the controversy surrounding celebrity chef Paula Deen and how health advocates were furious that she would continue to demonstrate a cooking style that promotes obesity and destroys health even though three years ago she was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. In addition, I took her to task for promoting a drug rather than healthy living as a way to cope with this devastating disease.

Here’s the point I was trying to make: A good diet + daily moderate exercise + the loss of body fat can put type 2 diabetes on the run. You aren’t cured, because the disease will come back if you quit doing these things, but odds are good you can live as a non-diabetic if you sustain a healthy lifestyle.

However, when your only approach to diabetes is like Deen’s and the only thing you do is take prescription medications, all you are doing is treating the symptoms; the disease is still alive and well. Worse, over a prolonged period on medication, you can become a type 1 diabetic who must take insulin shots. This is especially true if you make things worse by gaining more body fat and not exercising.

In response I got lots of emails from Deen’s fans supporting her, but far more from those who were critical. Here are examples from each viewpoint. I’ll call them Jane and John.

Treating the symptoms - Jane

“I take issue with your criticism of Paula Deen. She is doing a good thing by promoting the proper medication for diabetes. I, too, am a type 2 diabetic and I am doing everything I can to cope with my disease. I am overweight and I admit I am sedentary, but I faithfully take my medication. If more people would follow Paula Deen’s example and take their medication, they would be doing much better.”

My response to this reader is that her claim of doing everything she can to cope with her disease is far from correct. She is doing nothing other than taking a pill. Similar notes from readers tell me that lots of folks out there either don’t understand what’s going on or they are unwilling to take responsibility for themselves and their health. This is unfortunate, because type 2 diabetes is a disease that so readily can be addressed by responsible living. This next note is a perfect example.

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Addressing the disease - John

“At one time I was fat and weighed 260 pounds. I have a family history of type 2 diabetes and I am diabetic. I have had many serious health problems stemming from my diabetes, including neuropathy problems (degeneration of the nerves), heart attack, gum disease and loss of teeth, etc., but when I was faced with the real possibility of being a blind man in a wheelchair I decided to make a major shift in lifestyle. Over the past 13 years my diet is healthy, I exercise daily and I reduced my weight to 175 pounds.

“Am I a success story? Yes and no. On the plus side, I was able to reduce my daily insulin dosage to zero. No more shots. I consider myself to now be in good health at age 77. On the negative side, I still have to take oral medication and I suffer from excruciating neuropathy. I am happy to be alive, but I have one regret. I should have started sooner.”

The bottom line

John woke up and made the kinds of changes I’ve been advocating for many years. He turned his disease around as best he could, but not completely. Unfortunately, he started too late and considerable irreversible damage had already occurred. That’s why Deen’s stance in favor of taking a pill and ignoring what you must do to be healthy has come under such intense fire from those who understand the issues.

About us

Courier-Journal reporter Darla Carter manages "In The Prime," a collection of news, features, videos, data and blog posts designed to help you thrive as you age. A longtime writer of the Thursday Health & Fitness section, Darla will find and post stories, blogs and news items every day on health, fitness and nutrition – all intended to help keep you and your family healthier. She is a Louisville native and graduate of Western Kentucky University.• Contact Darla with story ideas or feedback